BBC delays plans to dam entry to BBC Sounds internationally

The BBC has delayed its plans to dam entry to BBC Sounds for listeners exterior of the UK.

Earlier this 12 months, the company introduced plans to limit the supply of the app for worldwide audiences, with the proviso that entry to Radio 4 and the World Service would stay for all by a brand new audio part on the BBC web site.

BBC Sounds is the service that enables listeners to take heed to the total vary of the company’s nationwide and native radio stations and podcasts, and it's at present absolutely accessible to folks around the globe.

As an alternative of following by with their preliminary plans, they've now stated they intend to “proceed to make different BBC stations accessible to listeners exterior the UK”, saying they “is not going to shut BBC Sounds exterior the UK till we've confirmed these plans”.

It added that it nonetheless intends to shut BBC Sounds to audiences exterior the UK later this 12 months, however it's now working “in parallel” on plans to make a spread of stations stay accessible internationally when that occurs.

“This contains the BBC’s music stations. BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3, 6music, 1xtra and the Asian Community, in addition to the BBC stations from across the Nations and Areas, together with Native Radio,” the company clarified.

The plans have been significantly criticised by audiences within the Republic of Eire, who would have entry to the native stations BBC Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle made unavailable beneath the present plans.

The BBC has confronted different criticisms in current months, together with when it pulled the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone from BBC iPlayer in February. It emerged that the doc was narrated by the son of a Hamas official, however their determination to take away it was condemned by some, together with Kneecap director Wealthy Peppiatt and Riz Ahmed.

The company additionally apologised in January to staff who felt unable to talk up about alleged misconduct by its former presenter Russell Model between 2006 and 2008.